Grocery Tote Bags

Paper or plastic? How about neither -  as a planet, we consume about 500 billion plastic bags a year. Put the kibosh on your plastic bag consumption by investing in a few reusable tote bags. Each grocery tote replaces an estimated 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime, and many supermarkets offer rebates if you BYO-bag. Plus, reusable bags introduce a whole new accessory category, giving you yet another outlet for expressing your eco-chic style (which is particularly eco-friendly if the tote is a recycled grocery bag).

If you’re looking for eco-friendly ways to fill up a reusable tote, we’d suggest stocking up on eco-friendly underwear and paraben-free beauty, and then accessorizing with eco-friendly shoes and handbags.

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Basic Grocery Tote Bags

You can’t go wrong with an assortment of solid-colored totes. They get the job done without a lot of fuss, and since they’re purely utilitarian, solid bags are usually the most economically friendly.

Bargain Buy		Editor’s Pick
EnviroSax GreenGrocer $7.50 This super light tote comes in an array of colors and is perfect for rolling up and keeping in your normal handbag.  This way, the next time you “accidentally” go shopping, you already have the bag on hand for your new duds.	Clava Eco-Friendly Roll-Up Tote $58The canvas Clava tote rolls up for ease of use, and has nice leather accents that give it a more sophisticated look than any logoed paper bag can ever have.	Twelfth St. By Cynthia Vincent Metallic Grocery Bag $279If you want one statement sack, the Metallic Bag from Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent is the one to pick. This smooth leather bag is strong and has a great shimmering finish.

Printed Grocery Tote Bags

Spice up your trip to the supermarket by picking a patterned reusable bag that shows what a chic shopper you are.

Bargain Buy
Baggu Reusable Shopping Tote Bag $20 for three pack Knock out your reusable grocery tote needs in one inexpensive punch with this coordinated three-pack of grocery bags.  They fold, they’re light, and the print is much cuter than an icky grocery store throwaway bag,	Emilie Sloan Juliette Market Tote $34 Keep your farmer’s market haul in Emilie Sloan’s Juliette market tote, a roomy, waterproof bag with plenty of interior pockets and the prettiest damask pattern.	Market Tote by Built $40 These sturdy, yet lightweight neoprene totes actually keep cold goods cold, plus they can flatten to store. Choose from festive stripes or polka dots.

Designer and Artist Grocery Tote Bags

If the “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” craze taught us anything, it’s that reusable bags can make for a serious fashion statement. If you can’t live without labels, a designer- or artist-imagined reusable tote is the way to go.

Bargain Buy
The Sak Grocery Tote Shopper $10 At ten dollars there’s no excuse for not picking up one of these durable, multifunction bags from The Sak. Plus, the cool “peace” motif is artsy, but chic.	Anya Hindemarch Shopping Tote $98 Show off your smart shopping habits by carrying Anya Hindemarch’s canvas shopping tote. Its wise and whimsical graphic makes it a kitschy-cute addition to any weekend wardrobe	Kate Spade Bon Mot Shopper $175 This canvas shopper has hidden pockets, so it can hold everything and it looks great all on its own, too.